We have had a long winter and spring seems overdue. It was wonderful to see the sunlight on Easter morning! The season of Easter is a time of reflection as well as hope and joy. On behalf of the Ecumenical Community Center I want to thank all of you who make possible all that the Ecumenical Center does.
The ECC leases kitchen, dining and meeting space to Greensquare Meals and the Witwer Senior Center for $1 a year. The hundreds of thousands of meals served annually and the social opportunities they furnish are made possible in part because of your support of the Ecumenical Center.
Likewise, your support helps ECC provide reduced-cost office space for several other non-profit organizations, including Foman infant care, The Tapestry program, the SERRV store and Cedar Rapids Aquatics.
CompuPlace is working on expanding its computer opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Ecumenical Center is excited about serving more people and working with more local agencies to provide the individualized access CompuPlace provides.
The first and largest program of the Ecumenical Center continues to grow. Helping Hands Ministry receives 800 calls a month for assistance and, thanks to you, provides some $6,000 in monthly financial aid. In addition, HHM provides information, referrals and counseling. Helping Hands Ministry continues to administer ‘first month’s rent’ programs for Linn county and the city of Marion. Your support makes possible the staff time HHM provides to administer these critical rent assistance grants.
Sometimes the winter seems long and dark. Easter reminds us that the Ecumenical Community Center is blessed with a dedicated staff, volunteers, and wonderful support from the churches and community of the Cedar Rapids area. I thank all of you! I thank God for the work the Ecumenical Center is able to do and the many hands willing to help. May we all reflect God’s sunshine as we serve those around us.
Jim Kennedy, ECC President
Mark your calendar :
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Returning Prisoner Simulation
9:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m.
St Pius X Fellowship Hall
Registration at 9:15 a.m.
Call 366-2651 to pre-register
Cost: $10 Adults; $5 Students
(includes light meal)
Appropriate for anyone age 16+
There are over 3000 individuals in our six county area who are in jail, prison, parole, probation, or residential placement. 95% of these individuals will return to our community. Learn ways to make their return to society successful.
Lois Ann Rude, HHM Director
Kiersten Onanga, HHM Staff Associate
601 Second Avenue SE #2
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Phone: (319)-366-2651
Email: helpinghands@ecc-cr.net
In the last issue, it was noted that over 3,000 referrals are made each year in addition to providing services with the donations from churches, individuals and grants received by HHM. We were asked “what type of referrals” by a reader. In response, HHM makes referrals to
There are undoubtedly more referrals that have not been itemized in this space, but it does show that staff and volunteers provide valuable referrals to those who contact our office. We work with others to provide caring support to people in need and preserve dignity by helping them manage their own lives. Our staff and volunteers offers someone to talk to; someone to share concerns with; someone to encourage reaching goals and then rejoice in those accomplishments! If you would like more information, please call Lois or Kiersten at (319) 366-2651
We have a great fundraising opportunity for Helping Hands Ministry at no cost to you. Yellowbook is launching their Weforia website locally per Melissa Wagner-Kingery who serves on the HHM Steering Committee. This website will bring you discounted deals from local businesses (one e-mail per day). You are not required to purchase anything. For every subscriber we sign up, HHM will receive a $3.00 donation from Yellowbook. You must continue as a subscriber through August 2011 at a minimum.
It is as easy as:
Please sign up beginning May 1st through June 30, 2011. Share this with your Cedar Rapids area family, friends and on your Facebook page. Thanking you in advance,
HHM Steering Committee
Inserted here is a graphic of a Smiley juggling dollar bils.
Jessica Stamper has been a volunteer for Helping Hands Ministry since June of 2010. Other than a brief maternity leave, she has worked 30 hours a week in the front office.
“I like to help people and this place was a good fit for me.” says Jessica. She is the proud mother of Alyssa (age 2) and Bentley (age 5 months). Office work has been a big change from the type of factory work she had done before.
Greeting those who contact HHM takes up the majority of her time. Scheduling appointments, calling with reminders, distributing bus tickets, writing “thank you notes”, filing and answering the over 700-800 incoming phone calls per month is a challenge, but one that she really enjoys.
Jessica is also working on furthering her education. Just recently she has taken on entry of statistical information on the HHM data base. She’s not afraid to try new things.
We at HHM are fortunate to have her. She has such an upbeat, friendly attitude and it is a pleasure working with her.
When you come to visit HHM, say “hello” to Jessica.
If you would like to volunteer:
Contact Lois Rude or Kiersten Onanga at (319) 366-2651
We look forward to hearing from YOU!
Robin Switzer Brunner, Director
601 Second Avenue SE #3
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Phone: (319)-362-4284
Email: compuplace@ecc-cr.net
COMPUPLACE: A specialized Learning Lab for People with Intellectual Disabilities or Assistive Technology needs.
Individuals come to CompuPlace to gain, develop, maintain and augment basic skills through computer related activities. Although often highly motivated to continue life-long learning after public school ends at age 21, many of our clients have few, if any, other appropriate post-secondary learning opportunities. In the first quarter of 2011, an average of 53 individuals spent 160 hours per month at CompuPlace. 165 hours of staff time per month were required. CompuPlace utilizes standard computer games and games designed for adults with disabilities, along with, for example, Touch Screens and Trackballs, Speech output, Switches and an Over-sized Keyboard. Since most CD’s designed for adults with intellectual disabilities cost around $100 per disk, and are often condescending, or boring, and since many standard computer games are either too hard or too easy, we have developed our own homemade HTML-based games. Funds are sought to help support a portion of salary costs while we further develop our personally relevant HTML-based learning games. These games are epistemic, revealing knowledge. We demonstrate and develop reading, math and problem-solving skills. Different tasks can be appropriately isolated for a given individual. In this way, we can highlight people’s strengths so they may use them to work on what is more difficult.
CompuPlace is seeking volunteers to help with development of these games. Individuals or groups (summer youth?) could help with photography and perhaps sound recording as well. This is the portion of making the games that can incur the most time, though it can also be fun and even instructive. Our clients are interested in a wide variety of subjects, maybe even one of your favorites!
In addition, as a fundraiser for CompuPlace, we are offering training to groups of more typical computer users about how to manage and move around files on your computer. We are requesting $20 per person. CompuPlace also seeks donations for training on designing accessible Information Age materials such as web pages and office-type documents. We plan on offering other classes too, for instance, on protecting your computer from viruses and other malware, and on using a free office suite called OpenOffice. Call or e-mail Robin to set an appointment for a group to tour or train!
The Ecumenical Community Center provides low-cost office space to nearly a dozen non-profit agencies. The newest agency to join the Ecumenical Community Center is The Tapestry. It was founded by Marti Gray and Paula Land with support from Matthew 25 Ministry Hub, AmeriCorps VISTA, and Block by Block.
How the Time Bank Works: It catalogs the strengths, skills, and interests of individuals and organizations in our community. Then the Community Weaver (web-based exchange site) links these together to help meet their respective needs. Time Bank members receive a time dollar for every hour of service, which can then be spent for needed goods and services from individuals or organizations in the network. Every member’s time is equal and there is no monetary equivalent associated with time dollars. “With Time Banking, you will be working with a group of individuals who are joined together for the common good. It brings out the best in people, because Time Banking is a system that connects unmet needs with untapped resources.” says Marti.
We are all assets. Every human being has something to contribute!
Some work is beyond price.
Building community is real work that needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded!
Helping works better as a two-way street.
How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?
We need each other.
People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength, and trust.
Every human being matters!
Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value.
Join us for a monthly orientation or social! Call: 319-310-4045 or 319-573-1744
Email: TheTapestry@thetapestry.us
Inserted here is the Tapestry graphic
...weaving a sustainable future.
A Home on Third
1021 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403
Our community is fortunate to have the Margaret Bock Housing (MBH) program. It continues to serve low income single adults with affordable housing. It continues to be at full capacity with a waiting list for acceptance. Thirty-four (34) single rooms are available to be occupied. Six of the rooms have an adjoining bathroom whereas the remaining 28 share one of several community bathrooms. Rent varies according to the size of the room from $235 to $255 per month including utilities and cleaning of all common areas.
The minimum requirements for acceptance are: must be single, have a source of income, pay a $130 security deposit, pay one month rent in advance and agree to a “criminal check”. Rent applications may be picked up at the Helping Hands Ministry office located at 601 Second Avenue SE #2. Wish list: twin sheets & pillows
“Do not be afraid any longer…your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” Jesus said this to his disciples and to us today, but how do we live as “kingdom people”? A suggestion for this is happening Saturday, June 25 in St. Pius X Hall from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. A brief explanation follows.
At the simulation, you are provided with a new identity as a parolee released from prison that morning. The session guides you to try to accomplish all the tasks facing returning prisoners in their first month back in the community, such as obtaining housing, a job, paying restitution and child support, while trying to avoid being sent back to jail. It is an eye opening opportunity. A debriefing is held afterwards, so participants can exchange reflections on your own role in prisoner re-entry – a chance to live as “kingdom people”.
This simulation is open to the public and is appropriate for adults and high school students. A $10.00 donation is requested from adults and $5.00 from high school and college students. Pre-registration is requested. Contact Lois or Kiersten at 319-366-2651 or helpinghands@ecc-cr.net
WALK IN THE SHOES OF A RETURNING PRISONER
ECC Board Meetings are held the last
Thursday of each month beginning at
7:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m.
If you would like more information on serving as a member at-large, please contact President Jim Kennedy at 366-2651.
Contributions received between January 1 & March 31, 2011
(not including private donations and agency rent):
Rockwell Collins Employees’ United Fund provided a technology grant to CompuPlace!
The Housing Fund for Linn County provided a $70,000 grant to Helping Hands. The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation & Brimmer Foundation also supported Helping Hands during this period.
If your church contributed during this 12-month period and is not recognized above, please contact the ECC office at 366-2651.
God is Good. His Goodness is everywhere. I see His Goodness in the pastors and lay people I meet; in the testimonies of the people we serve; and in the “thank yous” and “God bless yous” and the “I don’t know what I would have done without yous” that help us remember why ECCF is here.
Helping Hands Ministry must still turn away so many qualified requests for help and yet, the good news is that monthly budgeted funds now seem to be lasting into the 24th of the month instead of the 15th! Thanks be to God AND to you for your faithful giving.
Our special thanks to the churches of Our Savior Lutheran and Echo Hill Presbyterian who toured The Ecumenical Center Foundation in April. ( St. Paul’s Lutheran in Marion, we expect to see you very soon!) We are grateful for their (and your) interest and the insightful questions asked of our various ministry staff and volunteers. If a tour seems right for your group, (or if you just need I nformation of what ECCF does) please call me, 319-491-4523, or, e-mail me at vuichard9364@msn.com. You’d especially like meals at the Witwer Center…we save these for the tours’ grand finale!
We serve for the Glory of God. We give thanks for His Goodness in embracing us even though we fall short of His Glory; we give thanks for the ways we can serve His “children”; and we give thanks for you who have given of your time and treasure to the Ecumenical Center.
Marvalee Vuichard
Development Director
For distribution to clients:
Printing of the quarterly publication of The Echo is graciously provided by First Lutheran Church; Cedar Rapids, IA
The Ecumenical Community Center
601 Second Avenue SE #1
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Phone: (319)-366-2651
On the Web: www.ecc-cr.net